Boots was born at the Fyle Hospital in Geddes, SD, to parents Joseph Beeson and Agnes Lunak Beeson.

Agnes and her family had come from Bohemia, later known as Czechoslovakia when she was sixteen and Boots was able to speak their language.

Boots was an only child but her mother's extended family from Bohemia stayed close and she knew her cousins well. Boots was only 36 when she lost her mother. Her father, Joe Beeson, lived into his nineties and stayed close to her. Her mother's brother, Uncle Anthony Lunak, who had already been a positive influence in her childhood, remained important to her also, as did her cousin, Lillian Turnovek. Boots grew up in the Geddes, SD, area and attended grade school and high school there, graduating in 1941. She enjoyed all her school days because of the camaraderie and friendship of the students.

She enjoyed working at the Studio, a photography shop, where she was the colorist, using oil paint to tint wedding and graduation photos for two years.

She met Howard Balcom of Geddes, SD, and they were later married on January 2, 1942 at Butte, NE. It was a strong marriage and Boots grew close to her new family, especially her sisters-in-law. After their first son,

Boots and Howard moved to Bonesteel, SD. Howard and Boots had three children, Rex, Ruth, and Russell. Boots stayed home and put her energy into raising them. She was a good mother and shared her respect for education and her love of reading with her children. She taught them to be responsible and independent.

Howard and Boots were together for 44 years, until he passed away on October 12, 1987. Boots later married a friend of the family, also from Geddes, SD, C. L. Clark, on June 11, 1988. It was a different phase of life and they enjoyed it together for 18 years. Cliff even had her dancing. They moved to Dallas, SD, and then to Gregory, SD.

Cliff passed away June 3, 2006. Boots had grown close to his extended family also and remained so.

Boots belonged to the Friendship Club and the Over Fifty Club. She was the president of the Friendship Club for eight years.  She also belonged to the DAV in Winner. Boots had a very nice doll collection and a really amazing collection of boots of many different kinds. She was a very emotionally generous and giving woman. This made her a good neighbor and a loyal friend. She also had a good sense of humor and was a talented writer.

People really enjoyed getting letters from her and many of those letters have been saved by the lucky people who received them. She moved to the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in January of 2012, where she was appreciated by a new group of people there until the time of her death on Wednesday, September 9, 2020. She was 97.

Boots is survived by her children, Rex (Janice) Balcom of Mitchell, SD, Ruth (Larry) Heiser of Whitewood, SD, and Russell Balcom of Riverdale, NE. She also loved Nola Grim and Harland Clark of Gregory, SD, like they were her children and they took care of her as if they were. Boots also has five grandchildren, Rick Balcom, Julie Marron, Chad Balcom, Angie Balcom and Melissa Marty. She has six great-grandchildren, Jacob Marron, Jessica Marron, EllaMia Marty, Riley, Katie and Rayce Balcom. Along with this already extended family, Boots was loved and supported by many loving nieces and grandnieces in the area.

Boots was liked and appreciated by a great many local people and will be missed by everyone who knew her. Having shared in her life, we take pride in being known as her children, family and friends.